Prof. Feng Zhang

James and Patricia Poitras (1963) Professor in Neuroscience
Core Member, Broad Institute
Investigator, McGovern Institute for Brain Research (MIBR)

Primary DLC

Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences

MIT Room: NE30-10055

Areas of Interest and Expertise

Synthetic Biology
Development of Technologies for Genome and Epigenome Engineering
Neural Circuit Engineering
Optogenetics
Stem Cell Engineering
Gene Delivery

Research Summary

Feng Zhang, the W. M. Keck Career Development Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering, is a bioengineer focused on developing tools to better understand nervous system function and disease. He has pioneered the development of genome editing tools for use in eukaryotic cells -- including human cells -- from natural microbial CRISPR systems. Using CRISPR and other methodologies, Zhang studies the role of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying diseases, specifically focusing on disorders of the nervous system. He is especially interested in complex disorders, such as psychiatric and neurological diseases, that are caused by multiple genetic and environmental risk factors and which are difficult to model using conventional methods.

Recent Work

  • Video

    4.12.22-Health-Science-Feng Zhang

    April 12, 2022Conference Video Duration: 35:56
    Feng Zhang
    Core Member, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
    Investigator, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT
    James and Patricia Poitras Professor of Neuroscience at MIT
    Associate Professor, Departments of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Biological Engineering, MIT
    New York Stem Cell Foundation-Robertson Investigator